Mayonaka Ni Kawashita Yakusoku
Malice Mizer
A Midnight Promise: The Haunting Elegance of 'Mayonaka Ni Kawashita Yakusoku'
Malice Mizer's 'Mayonaka Ni Kawashita Yakusoku' is a hauntingly beautiful song that delves into themes of promises made in the dead of night, the passage of time, and the interplay between light and darkness. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of twilight shadows and fleeting moments, evoking a sense of melancholy and longing. The opening lines, 'Tasogare no naka ukabu kage / Itsuka mita kono koukei,' set the stage with an image of shadows floating in the twilight, hinting at a scene that feels both familiar and distant, like a memory or a dream.
The song's use of French phrases, such as 'C'est une imagination capricieuse comme la nuit / Elle est douce, la rencontre fatale,' adds a layer of romanticism and mystique. These lines suggest a whimsical imagination akin to the night and a sweet yet fateful encounter, reinforcing the song's ethereal and otherworldly atmosphere. The recurring motif of a promise made at midnight, 'Mayonaka ni kawashita yakusoku,' serves as a central theme, symbolizing a commitment shrouded in darkness and mystery.
As the song progresses, the imagery of light and darkness becomes more pronounced. The lines 'Awaki tsuki no hikari ni terasareta kage yo / Watashi wa shinku no bara no you ni somari yuku' describe shadows illuminated by the pale moonlight, with the narrator likening themselves to a crimson rose, gradually being stained. This metaphor suggests a transformation or a deepening of emotions, possibly sorrow or passion. The song concludes with a juxtaposition of falling with the sun and rising with the twilight, 'Taiyou to tomo ni ochiteyuku / Negai toki no kanata / Yuuyami to tomo ni noboriyuku / Shiroi nemuri no naka,' symbolizing the cyclical nature of time and the eternal dance between light and darkness.